KFC Asks The Pope To Bless Lent-Themed Fish "Snacker"

NPR is reporting that KFC has asked the Pope (yes, the actual Pope. Not that band The Smoking Popes) to bless their Lent-themed “Fish Snacker Sandwich.” From NPR:

“The president of KFC himself sent a letter to the Vatican, asking Pope Benedict XVI to bless the company’s new “Fish Snacker Sandwich. As you know a lot of Catholics give up meat on Fridays during lent, the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter, and fish is popular substitute, so the company is trying to capitalize on this by asking for a sort of “Papal Seal of Approval.”

…and the Catholic church is not all about lifting people out of poverty. They are both money making institutions. But, that being said, asking the Pope to approve one’s fried fish snack is more than a little crass….

Honest question: if fish isn’t meat, then what is it? I’m pretty sure it’s not a vegetable or a mineral. I’m familiar with the “no meat on Fridays during Lent” situation, but I’ve always been secretly confused by the “but fish is OK” clause.

Lent IS about marketing in America, and I’d imagine the rest of the western world– just like other “Christian” holidays, Christmas and Easter being the examples of marketable holidays. Red Lobster rolls out it’s most expensive specials during it’s LobsterFest promotion, which always coincides with Lent for a reason. That Margarita Lobster, Shrimp and Scallops is pretty good though, even for that heft $20 price tag.

As a former catholic I always wondered who profited off of things like the sale of incense pots, candles, statuary, paper thin wafers, wine, holy water, signs of the cross, the confessionals, and all the other paraphenalia typically found in the church. I always assumed it was the Vatican, but don’t really know. If this is true, how is this deal any different from other proposed business alliances? I suppose KFC would give a discount to Vatican employees, or a least a gift cerificate to the pontiff.

Frankly, All I really want is the triple crunch zinger sandwich back. If I pray can the pope get me that?

Peter was a fisherman before he became one of Jesus’ disciples. He’s the one who came up with the rule that Catholics have to eat fish on Fridays. So the idea of combining Lent and marketing isn’t exactly a new one.

B,
That is incorrect. The whole ‘no meat on fridays during Lent’ thing is not really a rule, but a suggestion made by Vatican II. As such, it is not considered a sin if it is not observed. Plus, it’s only during Lent, not the entire year.

As a current and practicing Catholic I don’t really find a problem with this.

No one bats an eye for Kosher or Hallal food products. I don’t really see an issue with the Vatican inspecting the composition of a food product and giving an approval.

Lent as a current Christian holiday is completely counter to consumerism. It really has no popularity because of it.

To explain it simply it is a time or fasting and introspection. It lasts for 40 days, the length of time that Jesus spent along in the desert before the events of Easter.
During this time you are supposed to remove objects and practices from your life that obscure your relationship with your self, family and god.

The significance of eating fish on Fridays,or the entirety of lent, is to impart conscious though of God in the daily act of eating.The thinking is that most people east meat daily and that eating fish makes a radical change in eating habits.

The holiday does not lend it self to consumerism or marketing in any way. It is a truly unique Holiday and holy season.

Typically the items sold in church go to the pay and running of the church. The building have to be maintianed and staff have to be paid. Money also usually changes hands from wealthy churches to poorer churces in the same Diocese,or group of churches in an area. The money also goes to the allieviation of poverty at home and abroad.

So, I guess there are lots of people who profit off the sale of items in churches. Many of whom you will never know or meet.

Gates points out that practically every fast-food chain offers a cookie-cutter style fish sandwich during Lent, but it takes a company like Long John Silver’s to offer an exciting menu item like Lobster Bites.

“We appeal to seafood lovers year round; this isn’t a part-time job for us,” Gates said. “That’s why you’ll find an exciting product like Buttered Lobster Bites only at Long John Silver’s, while the ‘seafood pretenders’ serve up their generic fish sandwiches for Lent.”

@Skeptic: “..and the Catholic church is not all about lifting people out of poverty.”
What? Are you insane? The Catholic Church is the largest charitable organization in the world. No organization helps the poor MORE than the Catholic Church. Your comments are not factual at all.
Also, the idea that the Church started the fish on Fridays to help the fishing industry is a common, sad urban legend. It’s not historically true. Please folks, don’t fall for urban legends.
Also – the no meat on Fridays – is NOT optional. It is required by all Catholics during Lent and is recommended for every Friday of the year as a good idea. I would suggest that anyone posting about the Church should read “Catholicism for Dummies” or something similar at least before posting.

No, the Catholic church is not ALL about lifting people out of poverty. It does other things, like helping give moral guidance to people, or providing a sense of community. So no, it is not ALL about lifting people out of poverty.

Morons need to read what is written, not what they think is being said.

*sigh* it is also not required of all Catholics. Children under the age of 16 (i think its 16, may be 14) are not required to do it, neither are the elderly or the sickly. So no, it is not required of ALL Catholics.

Damn absolutist statements.

Oh… and you get your information on Catholicism from a Dummys book? You know, the Vatican puts out a book defining Catholicism and Catholic opinion as well, you may have heard of it… the Catechism?

Oh, and if you can’t tell, I’m a Catholic. I would guess that you are… but obviously an American Catholic. Which really comes across as something different… arrogant dick. Attacking people because they don’t know the details of someone else’s religious affiliation.

Hexium – the point I was trying to make was in regard to “Skeptic” who was trying to say that the Church didn’t help people. He is clearly wrong – the Church helps TONS of people.
Also, you are correct about the age of fasting from meat. My point was broader – someone above posted that it was optional for everyone (which is not true).
But hey, thanks for jumping all over me. Nice. I’m guessing you’re French.